Dynamic Vehicle Seat Actuation for Fatigue-Reducing Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Long-distance vehicle travel leads to muscle fatigue, stiffness, and ischemia due to prolonged stationary positioning, causing discomfort and potential health issues such as blood clot formation.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seating system equipped with powered seat adjustment actuators that slowly move the seat to alter the seating position, dynamically adjusting speed for comfort, and incorporating sensors to suspend movement during braking or other critical events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seat remains stationary for long periods, then the vehicle structure is stable, but muscle fatigue and ischemia occur due to prolonged positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic seat movement by automatically adjusting the seat position at predetermined intervals during vehicle operation. The controller monitors vehicle operation status and triggers seat position changes at specific time intervals, creating periodic motion that prevents muscle fatigue and ischemia while maintaining overall system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the seat from a static to a dynamic system by incorporating powered adjustment actuators that automatically modify seat position based on vehicle operation conditions. The system dynamically adapts seat positioning throughout the journey, changing from fixed to movable states to eliminate harmful effects of prolonged stationary positioning.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the seat adjusts frequently to prevent fatigue, then circulation is improved, but user comfort decreases due to constant movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses predetermined time intervals to determine when seat adjustment should occur, creating a balanced periodic motion pattern. This approach ensures circulation is improved through regular movement while avoiding excessive adjustment frequency that would compromise user comfort during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller monitors vehicle operation status and uses this feedback to intelligently determine optimal moments for seat adjustment. By considering real-time operational conditions, the system adjusts seats only when appropriate, balancing circulation improvement with maintaining user comfort during vehicle operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple actuators are added to provide comprehensive seat adjustment, then seating position adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the seat adjustment function into multiple independent powered actuators, each responsible for specific seat position parameters. This segmentation allows comprehensive adaptability through coordinated operation of individual actuators while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller integrates multiple actuator control functions into a single unified system that manages all seat position adjustments based on vehicle operation conditions. This multi-functional approach provides comprehensive seating adaptability while consolidating control logic to manage overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seating system is disclosed having a seat and at least one powered seat adjustment actuator for altering the seating position formed by the seat. A controller dynamically adjusts the speed of movement of said seat back based on comparing at least one speed parameter from said first series of speed parameters with a first smooth movement speed projection and dynamically adjusting a first control signal to said first powered seat adjustment actuator to converge the speed of movement toward or equal to said first smooth movement speed projection.